Heather Schrum '05, a geosciences major, certainly used her time
at Hamilton to get plenty of hands-on experience in her field. She
participated in field work on two Antarctic cruises, in 2004 and 2005,
and in the summer of 2004 spent two months doing geochemistry research
on campus with Professor of Geosciences Eugene Domack.
Schrum spent this summer as a recent Hamilton graduate working at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts on a project supported by Professor Domack. "Hamilton and especially Eugene Domack have given me extraordinary research opportunities as a junior, senior and Hamilton alum," said Schrum.
This summer, Schrum's project wasconstructing a "dirt burner" based on a design by a former Woods Hole scientist. The ultimate goal is to analyze samples Professor Domack has collected during his Antarctic cruises. The dirt burner is a machine that traps the gases released by a sediment sample. "[It] allows us to evaluate at what temperature specific gases, particularly carbon dioxide, are released," explained Schrum. This analysis should in theory reveal the origin of the sediment sample, whether biogenic (resulting from activities of an organism, for example a coral reef) or terrigenous (derived from the land).
Schrum says that her experiences this summer at Woods Hole have been "essential to her career." Her time spent at Hamilton working with Professor Domack has continued to increase her interest in geosciences, and next year she will attend the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island as a Ph.D. candidate in geological oceanography. "Through field research and my senior thesis project, [Professor Domack] showed me that knowledge and hands on work in areas of this broad topic are essential for being a successful geologist and researcher," said Schrum.
-- by Laura Trubiano '07
Schrum spent this summer as a recent Hamilton graduate working at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts on a project supported by Professor Domack. "Hamilton and especially Eugene Domack have given me extraordinary research opportunities as a junior, senior and Hamilton alum," said Schrum.
This summer, Schrum's project wasconstructing a "dirt burner" based on a design by a former Woods Hole scientist. The ultimate goal is to analyze samples Professor Domack has collected during his Antarctic cruises. The dirt burner is a machine that traps the gases released by a sediment sample. "[It] allows us to evaluate at what temperature specific gases, particularly carbon dioxide, are released," explained Schrum. This analysis should in theory reveal the origin of the sediment sample, whether biogenic (resulting from activities of an organism, for example a coral reef) or terrigenous (derived from the land).
Schrum says that her experiences this summer at Woods Hole have been "essential to her career." Her time spent at Hamilton working with Professor Domack has continued to increase her interest in geosciences, and next year she will attend the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island as a Ph.D. candidate in geological oceanography. "Through field research and my senior thesis project, [Professor Domack] showed me that knowledge and hands on work in areas of this broad topic are essential for being a successful geologist and researcher," said Schrum.
-- by Laura Trubiano '07
